‘A wonderful gesture’ - Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson helps fund non-league club's 600-mile cup trip
Sir Alex Ferguson has been praised for a kind act of generosity
Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has offered a small Glasgow side a huge financial boost in the hopes of inspiring them to a Scottish Cup upset.
Ferguson, who spent his entire playing career in Scotland between 1957 and 1974, before managing East Stirlingshire, St Mirren and Aberdeen, grew up watching local Glasgow side Benburb as a youngster and has now offered to pay for their accommodation ahead of the non-league side’s upcoming test against Wick on October 25.
Sir Alex had visited the club recently, and has often spoken of his fondness for the Govan side, who play in the West of Scotland Football League's first division; six divisions below the top-flight. The Govan-based team recently reached the second round of the Scottish Cup by shocking Cowdenbeath, and have now been paired with Wick, who play 300 miles north of them in the Highlands. Meaning a 600-mile round trip.
The team had originally planned to travel on the day of the game, in what would have been a six-hour trip. However, Ferguson was horrified when he learned of the lengthy journey the team faced and afforded to cover accommodation costs himself so they could instead spend the evening before in a hotel.
Sir Alex Ferguson lauded for ‘wonderful gesture’
Gordon Robertson, the co-owner of Benburb, says the players are absolutely thrilled with the kindness Alex Ferguson has shown them. He told BBC News: “It's a six hour trip, and it would have been a big outlay for the club to pay for the players to stay overnight.
"Sir Alex offered to pay for the players and staff to stay overnight before the Wick game. It's a wonderful gesture, and very much appreciated. The players are totally thrilled."
A victory for Benburb could place them in the third round of the competition and present them with a glamour tie against a Premiership side like Celtic or Ferguson’s old club Rangers.
Mr Robertson added: "He was complimentary about the win against Cowdenbeath - they're a couple of tiers above us, so it was a bit of a shock result. He'd seen the goals and said he hoped he could help us get into the third round We consider him the greatest football manager of all time, so to have him in the corner, with a few kind words from him was good enough - but to help us prepare for the match is something special."
Sir Alex Ferguson remains an icon of Scottish football
Sir Alex Ferguson is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the history of Manchester United and English football. He won 13 league titles with the Red Devils, two Champions Leagues, one Cup Winners Cup and a further nine domestic honours.
However, his trophy cabinet stretches beyond his time at United to a fruitful spell at Aberdeen. As manager of the Dons, he won three league titles, three Scottish Cups and one League Cup as well as the European Cup Winners Cup where his team toppled Real Madrid - making them the last team to beat them in a European final.
No manager since Ferguson outside of the Old Firm has led their team to a league title in a record stretching all the way back to 1986.